Downey signs for ‘Avengers’ sequels

Caption

(Joel Ryan)

This April 18, 2013 photo shows actor Robert Downey Jr at the UK premiere of "Iron Man 3," in central London. Marvel announced Thursday, June 20, that the actor will reprise his role as Iron Man/Tony Stark for both “The Avengers 2” and “The Avengers 3.” Downey Jr. has played the character in a trilogy of “Iron Man” films, as well as the first “Avengers” film,” which made $2.7 billion worldwide. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP, file)

By MCT News Service

LOS ANGELES – Robert Downey Jr. has signed a deal to reprise his role as billionaire genius/playboy/inventor Tony Stark in two “Avengers” films.

Marvel.com posted news Thursday morning that the actor has signed a two-picture agreement to climb back into the Iron Man armor for “The Avengers 2” and “The Avengers 3.”

The first “Avengers” sequel will be written and directed by Joss Whedon and is set to begin production in England’s venerable Pinewood-Shepperton facility in March.

The film is set for release May 1, 2015.

“We fit each other pretty snug, and I feel like when I’m him I know what to do,” Downey told the Los Angeles Times earlier this year of his relationship to Tony Stark. “At the same time, I don’t know why I know what to do. I just know that I do. There’s still just a sense of wonder to me that there’s something so watchable about this character’s ongoing, trippy saga.”

Audiences seem to agree. “Iron Man 3” collected nearly $200 million when it opened in some 42 countries around the globe at the beginning of May, and earlier this week, the film crossed the $400-million mark at the domestic box office.